2017 year has Flown

So, I've been busy this year after taking 4 months off in the beginning of the year to recover from some serious injuries that have impacted my health. Along with having to work full-time, I have found some time to go to a few competitions this year. I have moved up to the trot level division in vaulting.

It has been a long and hard road these last 4 years of vaulting, but I plan to continue and push when I can. I have take the the chance to travel away from the East Coast to view a vaulting team on the West Coast. I recently have joined in on the fun with the Barefoot Vaulters of the Santa Barbara area. I am so glad I finally got to meet with my friend out there and her team. We've followed each other on instagram from the last few years and after talking between that time, we finally met!

As for the progress, as you can see, I managed to go my bridge for the first time by horseback. It's been rather interesting trying to balance it at my height at times.

I am looking forward to the 2018 competition year. As the season starts of in the spring, I will mainly resume focus on the competitions do to the large quantity of my time going to work, traveling, and the artwork I am trying to promote.

As for the future, vaulting remains in my schedule to continue and progress. Though, I have been considering going back to school to finish with my masters in the next year or so. There is a lot going on outside of my vaulting sport that doesn't leave me with much time to do the backyard vaulting like I had been with a close friend of mine. And the options of schools and locations are something I have to keep in consideration with my work.

I will admit, that it has been a very confusing time for me with all these life charges around me going on. I hate to say it, but I'm kind of glad the knee injury happened when it did. I need some down time for a bit and the fall/winter season can be difficult to manage.

I am only human, just like everyone else. I have skills, troubles, and responsibilities. Also, you will notice, that I no longer have my beloved horse Tippy. As much as I wanted to keep him, I realized just how much time was being taken up by having to make sure he was a priority to take care of him myself because I was doing self care where I boarded. I cared about my long time riding buddy of over 10 years, but it was time for him to go to someone who could give him more time than I could as my work load picked up.

I realized after I graduated just how much time I had to take to make sure he got cared for first before I could go about my day and be with the people I wanted to be with most. I wanted to spend more time with my horse, but I couldn't give more of my time to work him like he needed to be worked. Of course, he had the best care, shelter, fed, and pasture a horse his age could have wanted. It was just getting to the point that I had to prioritize work more than anything after I graduated.

I was blessed to have him when I needed him the most. I can remember last fall taking him on many long trail rides on the country roads before sunset and even riding him to my campus. It's true what they say about animals being loyal to a fault. I don't know if I can relate to it on that level. When I was in school and my schedule started freeing up, I saw less and less of my friends around and I was always glad to have Tippy around.

The thing about owning an horse is that you have to make sure their care comes first, and I always did my best to make sure I did so. Even if it meant bring him in some nights after 11pm or some times around 1am. Of course I always tried to bring him in after my work at the stables or a class to try and have the evening free after wards.

So, as it sits for now, I will probably not decide to get another horse for a while. Let's just stick with vaulting for the time being until life shows me another option on how to run things. I really can't say for sure what life has in store for me, nor am I going to rush things. Rushing usually doesn't help any situation. And I think I need to take some time and slow things down a bit and see where I need to be headed in any aspect.